Easel



Aug. 1.7, 1926.

A. LA. FowLER EASEL Filed May 4. 1925. 3 Sheets-Sheet /2 ATTORNEYS Aug. 17 1926. 1 1,596,091

A. L. FOWLER.

EASEL Filed May 4. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 17, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- ALONZO LAFAYETTE FOWLER, OF COEUR DALENE, IDAHO, AssiGNoR on ONE-HALF To RAYMOND A. sTRUNK, or OOEURYDALENE, IDAHO.

EASEL. l

Application led May 4, 1925.

My invention relates Vto improvements in easels for supporting displays, signs, small articles of merchandise, and the like, and it consists in the combinations, Vconstructions and arrangements herein described Aand claimed.

An object of the invention is the pro vision of an easel whichis adapted to be made of pasteboard, light gauge metal, or the like but which by reason ot its novel constriiction will be securely braced and stayed against accidental collapse and will last a relatively long time in the service for which it is intended.

Other objects Vand advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1'is a perspective view of a card supported by one Jform of easel embodying the invention,

Figure 2 is a rear face view of the card with the easel blank attached thereto,

Figure 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the positions of the sections of the easel blank after the lirst step of the operation ot iolding'the easel blank has been accomplished,

Figure 4L is a. view similar to Figs. 2 and 3, showing in full lines the positions' of the sections of the easel blank after the sections have been folded and showing a strip of adhesive tape for retaining the sections vfolded, extended positions of certain of the sections being shown in dotted lines,

Figure 5 is a section along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, showing the. sections ot the easel folded and the flaps of the strip of" adhesive tape applied, f

Figure 6 is`V a vertical section through the card and through the supporting easel.

FiOure v7 is? a perspective view of a modiiication, y

c, Figure 8 is a face view,y of the easel shown in Fig. 7 in collapsed or AOpened out condition. i AFigure 9 is a perspective view;7 ofanot-her modifica-mn, .l 1 c F ignre 10 is a view similar to Fig. 8 of theimodification shown in` Figui). n Y

Figure 11 is a perspective viewfo-tanotherv modication, 'Y Y Serial o." 27,999.

Figure 17A is a perspective View of stilll another modification, and

Figure 18 is a perspective view of a securing strip which is comprised in the form of easel shown in Fig. 17.

The improved easel is made of a single sheet of blank of pasteboard, light gau e metal or like material. This blankV is fas ioned and creased or folded along the lines indicated at 1, 2,73, and' 1l, respectively in Fig.' 2 to provide a substantially rectangular attaching section 5, a pair of triangular bracing 'side sections 6, and a. pair of substantially rectangular bracing outer end or back sections 7.V Each section 7 is substantially'of the same length and width as the attaching section 5. v

The attaching section 5 is secured' iiatwise to the back of axcardlS by adhesive or in any other suitable known 'manner so that the lower edge of the attaching section is substantially flush with the lower edge of the card. The card 8 of course represents any display card, sign, small article ot merchandise or Lthe like or a means for supporting any small object.

Y The outerend sections 7 then are, bent substantially at right angles'to the side sections 6, as shOwnin'Fig.y 3. The side sec tions thenare ioldedalong the .lines 2 and 3, respectively, until parallel to each other and until the outer end sections 7 are lapped and the reeside edgeof one ofthe sections 7 v abutsthe inner taceot the opposite side Seet'on 6.. adjacent. t0 the line" of juncture V01E Sad'. eide ,Section ivththe: other. end Section 7 Itk will bemanitest that vthe sectionsot the. easel, Will brace.' one an@tflver.A against C01.-Y lePSe .when the. sctonsare held flded in the' estons just described' andnthaiitlie lapp'efd enter. .end 01 beek Sections andtheatf taoliing section will converge together 4at their upper ends, being inclined toward each other. The card 8 therefore will be supported in inclined position when all sections of the easel rest at their lower edges on a flat supporting surface.

A strip of adhesive tape has a body portion 9 secured on the outer of the lapped sections 7 and has an extending upper end flap 1()j a lower end flap 11, and a side flap 12 which extends beyond the free side edge of the outer of the lapped sections 7. Nhen the sections of the easel blank have been folded in the nianner described, the lower end flap 11 is bent inwardly and upwardly over the lower edges of the lapped sections 7 and is secured against the inner face of the inner section 7. The upper flap is bent upwardly against the card 8 above the upper end of the easel and is secured to thecard. The side flap 12 is bent inwardly over the free edge of the outer of the lapped sections 7 onto the outer face of the adjacent section 6, and is secured to the latter.

rlie strip of adhesive tape just described is only one of a plurality of means which can be employed to hold the sections of the easel folded and l desire that it be understood that any suitable known ineans can be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention to hold the sections of the easel folded.

The moditication shown in Figs. 7 and 8 includes an attaching section 13, triangular bracing side sections 14, and a pair of back sections 15. A strip of adhesive has a body portion 16 secured on the back of the outer section so as to have a side flap portion 17 extending beyond the free edge of said outer section 15. A. second strip of adhesive is secured on the front face of the attaching section 13 and has an extending upper end portion 18. A thirt strip of adhesive is secured to the inner face of the inner of the sections 15 and has an extending lower end section 19. The sections of the easel are arranged as shown in Fig. 7 and are secured in set up position by the flaps 17, 18 and 19, the flap 17 being secured to the adjacent side bracing section 14, the flap 18 being foldedv outwardly and downwardly and secured to the back of the outer section 15 and the flap 19 being bent outwardly and upwardly and secured to the back of the outer section 15.

The attaching section 13 can be secured to a card 20 or the like by adhesive or in any other suitable known manner.

The forni ofthe device shown in Figs 9 and 10 diers essentially from the forni of the device shown in Figs. 7 and 8 only in that the bracing side sections, designated 14, of the form of the device shown in Figs. 9 and 10 have bottom wings 21 foldable along their lines of juncture'with the side sections 14 from the position shown in Fig.

10 to superposed position, the lower of the superposed bottoni wings carrying an adhesive flap 22 fold'able upwardly onto the adjacent side section 14 and being adapted to be secured to the latter.

rEhe forni of the device shown in Figs. 11 Y.nd 12 also is very similar to the forni of ne device exhibited in Figs. 7 and 8 but liters from the latter principally in that the attaching section, designated 13a is relatively short and the side sections, designated 14"L have the bottom edges thereof inclined or beveled as indicated at 23. The forni of the device Vexhibited in Figs. 11 and 12 is particularly well adapted for use in supporting cut out displays such as represented by the card 24 in Fig. 11, the beauty of the display not being marred by the extension of the attaching section of the easel below the cut out.

The form of the easel shown in Figs. 13 and 14 .is very siinilar to the forni. of the device which is illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 but differs from the latter in that attaching section, designated 18", of the forrn of the device shown in Figs. 13 and 14 is relatively short and the side sections designated 14h, of the last named form of the device have beveled or inclined bottoni edges when the easel is in card or display supporting position as shown in Fig. 13.

The easel shown in Figs. 15 and 16 preferably is rnade of a light gauge metal although it inay be inade of any other suitale material. lt includes an attaching section 24. triangular side sections 25, back sec tions 26, and bottom wings 27 at the lower ends of the side sections. The sections are folded to the positions shown in Fig. 15 when the easel is set up. The attaching section 24 has a middle securing tab 28 at its upper end flanked by two other fastening tabs 29. The outer of the back sections 26 has spaced attaching tabs at the free edge thereof. The lower of the bottom wings 27 has an attaching tab 31 at the free edge thereof. The tab 28 is bent outwardly and downwardly onto the outer of the'backsections 26. The tabs 30 are bent through aper tures 32 in the adjacent side section 25 against the inner face of the inner back section 26. The tab 81 is bent through an'aperture 33 in the bottoni edge of the adjacent side section 25 onto the inner face of the inner bottoni wing 27. A pair of lateral tabs 34011 the attaching section 24 adjacent tothe lower end of the latter and the tabs 29 are adapted to be bent forwardly for engagenient with slots in a display card, not shown, or the like to secure the display card to the easel. The sections of the easelV shown in Figs. 15 and 16 will be held firmly although releasablv in set up position by the means just described. Y

The easel shown in Fig.. in'ay be' inadeof pasteboard or any other suitable material and includes an attaching section 24a, triangular side sections 25, back sections 26a, and bottom Wings 27a on the side sections 25a. A metallic securing strip 35 has tangs 36 secured in the outer back sections 26a of the easel so that fastening tabs 80a on the securing strip extend beyond the free edge of outer back section 26a of the easel. The tabs 30El are adapted to be bent through apertures 32 in the adjacent side section 25a of the easel onto the inner face of the inner back section 26 of the ease-l. The lower bottom Wing Q7 has spaced fastening tabs 314 adapted to be bent throughV apertures 33a in the adjacent side section 25a' onto the inner face of the inner bottom` Wing 27a. The sections ot the form of the device shown in Fig. 17 thus will be secured firmly, al-V though releasably in set up position.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to any particular means for holding in set up position the sections ot any form of easel which the invention may embody as any suitable means may be used for holding the sections of the easel in set up position either permanently or releasably, as desired.

l. An easel formed of a continuous sheet of light gauge material and comprising a quadrangular front section, a pair of similar triangular side sections joined to the liront section at the lateral edges of the latter,

quadrangnlar back members joined to the rear edges of the side sections, thev adjoining edges of the back members and the side sections being coextensive, the upper edge of the front section abutting the upper edges of the back members. v

3. An easel comprising a hollow body tapering toward its top, said body 'being rectangular in horizontal cross section and triangular in vertical section taken on a plane extending through the front and back portions of the body, said body being closed at its top sides, front and back.

ii- An easel made of a single sheet of light gauge material bent'to provide a quadrangular front section, abracing back member comprising a pair of quadra-ngular lapped lateral portions of said sheet, and bracing triangular side sections staying the front and back members to each other; the joined edges of adjacent sections being coextensive in length.

ALONZO LAFAYETTE FOVVLER. 

